First hand account of the Olympics – is the negative hype to be believed?

Joanna, our CEO at Erna Low, is at the Vancouver Olympics and full of praise despite the negative publicity…

Waking up today to 10 cm of snow and perfect sunshine looking out over Whistler Creek from my cosy condo as The First Tracks Lodge, what better start to a day can you have?  Excitement was building at the sheer thought that we were going to be watchng the ladies’ downhill in just an hour and a half – and the whole resort was buzzing!   Sitting on a chairlift on the way up  Whistler mountain the snow was positively glistening and we were regailed with stories of bears hibernating – Ben  Ayling, our very own ErnaLowian turned Whistler-owian – spending his winters out in Whistler and summers in New Zealand – was taking us to a secret spot where only a handful of skiers could take advantage of a perfect view of the starting podium to the Women’s Downhill – where we would catch a glimpse of Britain’s own Chemmy Alcott competing against the best athletes in the world.   Leaping out of her hut – second out of 38 skiers down the treacherous slope, she managed a very admirable 13th spot – and just 2.5 seconds behind the American winner!  

Starting gate for the Women's downhill - C'MON CHEMMY!

As I watched the incredible prowess of the female athletes, it struck me again how brilliantly the Canadians have organized the whole event – and I could not stop myself feel more than slightly cross at the negative publicity coming out of the UK about the Olympics – as if some of the journalists had set their story before they had even written it.  Although the death last Friday on the luge was tragic and terrible, one feels that this has fuelled ALL the news to be negative – but if you are actually here on the spot, you experience a Canadian efficiency and hospitality second to none!

Me and my sons enjoying the privileged view

After having watched the downhill, we then spent the whole day floating through powder – silk under your feet, and views to die for!  We were so privileged:  there could have been no more than 500 skiers on Whistler mountain – normally 23,000!   And having explored the nooks and crannies of Whistler, we ended up on Blackcomb – connected by the incredible Peak to Peak gondola – and staring over mountain ranges that stretch up to Alaska ….

Finishing the day on the champagne powder

Mass snows in Snowmass!

‘I’m talking about a little place called Aspen!’

Everyone knows Americans like things BIG and their snowfalls are no exception! After receiving over 60cm (2 feet) of snow last weekend, Aspen/Snowmass is hotting up (well, not literally) to open in 9 days time.
Opening weekend sees have the return of the FIS Alpine Women’s World Cup race on Aspen Mountain and it’s a great way to kick off the season and combined with great terrain, events, snow, restaurants and nightlife, Aspen sure looks inviting this season…. And not too heavy on the purse strings either…

Ski holidays to Aspen start from £881 per person, based on double occupancy in a Ridge View room at The Stonebridge Inn. Price includes 7 nights lodging including daily continental breakfast from 01 December 2009, direct flights with British Airways from LHR-DEN, shared shuttle transfers to resort and all applicable taxes and surcharges. Please note: flights into Aspen airport can also be arranged at a supplement if preferred, subject to availability.

mass snowmass snows Photo: Jeremy Swanson

Snowy Downtown Aspen Photo: Daniel Bayer

Snowy Downtown Aspen

After Olympic snowfalls, Whistler opens this weekend!

Whistler must be cruising the luck wave at the moment, not only are the 2010 winter Olympics heading their way in February but they have also just announced they are will be opening 12 DAYS EARLIER than expected after epic snowfalls across North America and Canada in the past week.

Whistler Mountain is opening its doors early, this Saturday, November 14, with Blackcomb Mountain following in its footsteps on Thursday, November 26.
According to our friends over at Whistler, 70-100 cm of snow fell over the past seven days creating the perfect base to welcome skiers this weekend. And, with the cold front moving across the south Coastal Mountains, forecasts indicate another 65cm of snow could fall by Saturday. Combined with the onslaught of their 160 snow canons, and this early season is off to a very white start. Envious? Us? Maybe just a little bit…

Let the season begin!

you better get working if you want to be ready in time!

Looks cold! wrap up warm Whistlers!

Ski holidays to Whistler start at £1193 per person, based on double occupancy in a deluxe studio at the Pinnacle International Hotel. Price includes 7 nights lodging on a room only basis, direct flights with British Airways from LHR-YVR, shared shuttle transfers to resort and all applicable taxes and surcharges. Available through Erna Low www.ernalow.co.uk 0845 863 0525

A teddy bear’s picnic… canadian style!

Georgina takes a break from the cut throat world of ski sales to meet some of the locals across the pond…

A few weeks ago, I headed out on a 9hr flight to Canada and found myself in sunny Vancouver.  My first destination was up in northern British Columbia where I was lucky enough to experience the amazing sight of grizzly and black bears in their natural environment (luckily from a distance!). 

a grizzly out to lunch...run!

I then headed south to a resort which is regularly voted number 1 in North America and is also one of the venues of the 2010 Winter Olympics: Whistler.  Staying in the Pinnacle International Hotel, I had great access to all the resort facilities and, with all the hot weather, everyone was out experiencing the great activities on offer in the summer such as mountain biking, hiking, summer skiing and bear watching.  Fortunately, no bears came across my path this time! 

a black bear sizing me up

Whilst out in Whistler I had to get a head for heights experiencing the new Peak 2 Peak Gondola for the first time.  Connecting Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, this gondola has broken a few records being the highest lift of its kind and having the longest unsupported span of 3,024km.  It was opened in time for the 2008/09 winter season and has been a great success making it so much easier to experience both mountains during both the winter and summer.

Georgina High, ski sales consultant, Erna Low

Why not experience it for yourself this winter? Erna Low’s ski holidays to Whistler start at £937 per person, based on double occupancy in a deluxe studio at the Pinnacle International Hotel for 7 nights on a room only basis, direct flights, shared shuttle transfers to resort and all applicable taxes and surcharges. Click here for more details or call me on 0845 863 0525. I would be happy to personally talk you through it… and tell you more about the grizzlies!